General Description: Light Hardwood. Major species include F. callosa, F. fistulosa, F. lamponga, F. magnoliifolia, F. microcarpa, F. racemosa, F. sundaica, F. superba, F. tinctoria, F. variegata, F. vasculosa, F. virens and F. viridicarpa. Also known as Fig (India); Ara, Bunut, Karet and Kundang (Indonesia); Deua kiang, Mai deaua kham and Mai do (Laos); Nyaung (Myanmar); Papua New Guinea fig (Papua New Guinea); Balete (Philippines); Sai (Thailand); and Chi da and Sung (Vietnam).
Timber Description:
Density: 350 - 640 kg/m3
Heartwood: light yellow-brown or in various shades of yellow to pink-grey.
Sapwood: not differentiated from the heartwood.
Spot Characters:
non-durable.
texture is slightly coarse and uneven due to the presence of abundant parenchyma. Grain is interlocked.
Utilisation: The timber is suitable for plywood, disposable chopsticks, packing boxes and crates, wooden sandals, panelling, mouldings and ornamental items.
General Description: Light Hardwood. Major species include A. borneensis, A. endertii, A. flavescens, A. kinabaluensis, A. lenticula and A. orbicula. Also known as Kauri (Australia); Tulong (Brunei); Ndaku (Fiji); Agathis, Bembueng, Dammar pilau, Dammar raja, Fuko, Goga, Hedje, Kayu dammar putih, Kessi, Kisi, Salo and Solo (Indonesia); Kauri and Kauri pine (New Zealand); Kauri pine (Papua New Guinea); and Almaciga and Dayungon (Philippines).
Timber Description:
Density: 360 - 660 kg/m3
Spot Characters:
subject to dry-wood termite attacks and is rapidly destroyed by rotting fungi.
texture is very fine and even, with straight grain.
nailing property is rated as excellent.
the logs are generally remarkably free from defects except for occasional shot holes which are evenly distributed. Spiral grains have been recorded, although only on rare occasions.
Utilisation: The timber is highly prized as an interior finishing timber and is suitable for panelling, mouldings, high class joinery, pencil, plywood, furniture, drawing boards, disposable chopsticks, tooth picks, pattern-making and staircase (apron linings, handrail and sprandrel framing).
General Description: There are about 13 species of Shorea classified under Balau in Malaysia. This timber is one of the most commonly used heavy hardwoods in the country. The trees are medium-sized to very large and grow up to 75m tall.
Timber Description:
Density: 850 - 1,155 kg/m3
Heartwood: yellow - brown, brown or red, darkening to darker brown, purple-brown or dark red-brown.
Sapwood: fairly distinct, lighter in colour.
Spot Characters:
Timber very heavy.
Vertical canals in long tangential series.
Vessels mostly solitary, crowded and small in size.
Texture fine and even.
Utilisation: The timber is suitable for all heavy construction, bridges, wharves, posts, beams, joists, heavy duty flooring, power-line poles, railway sleepers, lorry and truck bodies, container floor boards and heavy duty laboratory benches.
Jelutong
Scientific Name: Dyera spp. (Apocynaceae)
General Description: Light Hardwood. Major species include D. costulata and D. polyphylla. Also known as Jelutong (Brunei); Jelutung (Indonesia); and Jelutong, Teen-pet daeng and Yelutong (Thailand).
Timber Description:
Density: 420 - 500 kg/m3
Heartwood: not distinguished.
Sapwood: creamy white to pale straw-coloured.
Spot Characters:
texture is moderately fine and even, with almost straight grain.
nailing property is excellent.
The logs are generally free from common defects. However, logs that have been damaged through bad and careless tapping are liable to fungal and insects infestation. Such attacks also occur in logs that have been left for some time in the forest after felling. Sap-stain fungi and ambrosia beetles are known to attack the logs (Desch, 1941). These attacks result in blue stains and tunnels in the log. Freshly sawn timbers are also prone to mould, blue stain and insect attacks. In some instances, the attack may occur few hours after sawing.
Utilisation: Jelutong is the favourite timber for pencil manufacture. It is also suitable for plywood, packing boxes and crates, pattern making, carving works, disposable chopsticks, tooth picks, picture frames, drawing boards, black boards, battery separators, toys and wooden shoe heels.
General Description: Light Hardwood, only one species, viz. E. diadenum, occurs in Peninsular Malaysia, while in Sabah and Sarawak there is another species, E. peltatum. Also known as Sesendok (Brunei); Kavula and Lekutu (Fiji); Bakota (India); Kayu labu, Membulan and Sendok-sendok (Indonesia); Basswood and Tau (Papua New Guinea); Gubas (Philippines); Endospermum-sasa and Hongopo (Soloman Islands); and Famo, Lokhao and Taphong (Thailand).
Timber Description:
Density: 305 - 655 kg/m3
Heartwood: bright yellow when fresh, often with a green tinge and darkens to light brown on exposure.
Sapwood: not differentiated from the heartwood.
Spot Characters:
texture is rather coarse but even with spiral, shallowly interlocked or slightly wavy grain.
nailing property is excellent.
the logs are usually reasonably sound but small areas of spongy heart may occur. Severe borer damage as well as staining will occur if there is delay in extracting felled logs.
Utilisation: The timber is a favoured species for the manufacture of match splints and boxes. The timber is also suitable for pattern making, drawing boards, plywood, packing boxes and crates, toys, wooden clogs, disposable chopsticks, pencil, ladies shoe sole, tooth picks and furniture.
Terap
Scientific Name: Artocarpus spp. and Parartocarpus spp. (Family: Moraceae)
General Description: Light Hardwood. Major species include Artocarpus altilis, A. elasticus, A. lowii, A. odoratissima, A. scortechinii, A. tamaran, A. teysmannii, Parartocarpus bracteatus and P. venenosus. Also known as Terap (Brunei); Kulu (Fiji); Aini and Chaplash (India); Pudu, Terap, Teureup and Upas (Indonesia); Taung-peinne (Myanmar); Antipolo and Malanangka (Philippines); Asina (Samoa Islands); and Hom, Ka-ok and Mai Hom (Thailand).
Timber Description:
Density: 400 - 560 kg/m3
Heartwood: yellow to light yellow-brown, occasionally, a dark brown heartwood with an orange tinge is developed, in which case, the sapwood is distinct.
Sapwood: generally not differentiated from the heartwood.
Spot Characters:
texture is moderately coarse to coarse.
nailing property is rated as good.
specimens of Artocarpus and Parartocarpuswere found to be attacked by dry wood termites, pin-hole beetles and blue stain fungal infestation.
Utilisation: The timber is suitable for light construction, posts, beams, joists, rafters, flooring, plywood, packing boxes and crates, wooden pallets (expendable type), non-striking tool handles, pattern making, panelling, mouldings and furniture.
General Description: Light Hardwood. Major species include C. auriculatum, C. coriaceum and C. squamatum. Also known as Terentang (Brunei); Pauh lebi, Terentang and Tumbus (Indonesia); Campnosperma (Papua New Guinea); Karamati (Soloman Islands); Aridda (Sri Lanka); and Huasum, Nangpron and Sangtrang (Thailand).
Timber Description:
Density: 320 - 560 kg/m3
Heartwood: bright pink when fresh and takes on a grey tinge on exposure.
Sapwood: not clearly defined from the heartwood.
Spot Characters:
texture is fine and even, with interlocked grain.
nailing property is rated as excellent.
small areas of spongy heart may be present in some logs, in which minute compression failures or cross-breaks may occur. The logs are liable to split through the pith but other forms of splits or checks and natural defects are not common. Shot-hole and pin-hole borers may occur both in the sapwood and heartwood (probably after felling) but this is usually slight. Staining may occur from the ends of logs or where bark has been removed.
Utilisation: The timber is suitable for match-boxes, match splints, pencil, packing boxes and crates, ornamental items, plywood, disposable chopsticks, ladies' shoe soles, sandals, toothpicks and particleboard.
